Breeding sheep values soared at the Euro Continental sale at Carlisle, the 1500 head entry saw top prices in excess of £700 for pure Texel gimmers.

Topping the trade at £760 was a pair from Jonathan Wales, Thackwood, who sold five to average £640.

At £720, Billy Graham, Craigdarroch, sold a single with his six levelling out at £438.33 and Karen Wight, Midlock, sold 13 Texels to a top of £700 to average £495.38.

Messrs Hewitson, Shalton Lodge and Byresteads sold 121 Texel cross gimmers to average £269

MORE NEWS | Woodies sells top Dutch Texel at 2500gns at Carlisle

MORE NEWS | Texel gimmer makes £390 at Penrith for Rowan Garth

An added attraction was the flock dispersal on behalf of Tony and Scott Dempster, Castlehill, who sold Texel, Beltex and Half-bred ewes to average £222 for 353. Beltex cross gimmers led this sale at £310 for a pen of three with Suffolk cross gimmers to £300.

The total sale averaged £224.60 with ewes cashing in at £210 – up £42 on the year – while gimmers levelled at £231, which represents a rise of £39.

Breed averages amongst the gimmers, saw Texels level at £230.84; Suffolks, £261.36; Beltex, £235.77 and Blue Texels levelled at £216.35.

Texel ewes cashed in at £202.03 with Suffolks at £285; Half-breds at £217.16 and North Country Cheviots levelled at £245.

Leading Prices

Ewes – Tex – £420 (x2), £250 (x2) 45 Cauldhame Rigg; £380, £370, £345 (x2), £305 (x3), £300 (x2), £255 (x2) Cornhills; £290 (x2), £280 (x2), £280 (x5), £265 (x5), £265 (x8), £260 (x5), £245 (x6), £240 (x6), £235 (x7), £230 (x2), £230 (x9), £220 (x4) Castlehill; £280 Cochranes Nurseries; £215 (x9), £200 (x5) Hayfield; £210 Longrigg. Suff – £285 (x10) Castlehill. Hb – £250 (x15), £225,(x12), £220 (x38), £220 (x32), £208 (x41), £190 (x6) Castlehill. NCC – £245,(x5) Castlehill.

Gimmers – Tex – £760 (x2), £560 (x3) Thackwood; £720, £390 (x3), £370 (x2) Craigdarroch Farm; £700, £680 (x2), £650 (x2), £500, £500 (x2), £340 (x2), £300 (x3) Midlock Farm; £680 Crimp Cramp; £500, £480, £300,Wanton Walls; £440, £360, £360 (x2), £300 (x2) 8 Terregles Town; £400 (x2) Overburns Farm; £380 (x7), £300 (x3) 45 Cauldhame Rigg; £360 (x2), Kirkbog Lodge; £330 Kirtleton House; £310 (x2) Hobbiesburn; £305, £300 Cochranes Nurseries; £300 Rowan Garth. Belt X – £310 (x3), £260 (x3) Castlehill; £230 (x2), £230 (x10) Halls Oven; £200 (x6) Slealands. Suff – £300 (x8), £295 (x10), £245 (x5), £200 (x2) Castlehill; £260 Rowan Garth; £220 (x5) Dashwell Green. Belt – £290 (x3), Castlehill; £200, £190, £200 (x3), £180 (x3) The Guards; £190 (x2), £160 Halls Oven. BTex – £290, £240 2 Wayside Cottages; £270, £225 (x3) Millrigg; £255,(x2), £250 (x2) Gracies Farm; £245, £180 (x2) Rowan Garth; £185 (x2) Itonfield Cottage; £180 (x3). BFL – £180 (x10) Nunfield.